Bookings for July camino

[yulkapics]

Dear all, I am planning to do a 10 day Camino with my 10yo from Irun to Deba (approx) in July. Would it be completely mad to rely on walk-ins for overnights along the route without pre-bookings? We are ok to pick up an occasional hotel if needs be and aim to walk shorter stretches of 10-15 km per day...

 

[Pilgrim_95]

We did the Camino Norte last year in the mid july. We walked from Santander and it was crazy busy. Lots of Spaniards going for holiday to the coast. Municipal albergues closed. Mostly pricey hotels were available. Quite a lot of pilgrims as well. I would book or reserve albergues at least for few days ahead. You can use Gronze.com to find some contacts

 

[Tincatinker]

In the Basque country in July I’d book my space in a church porch in advance

 

[Dave]

Would it be completely mad to rely on walk-ins for overnights along the route without pre-bookings?

Not completely, but mostly.

 

[yulkapics]

Ouch, ok. Reading all those blogs saying ah just arrive early and you will be fine This would be the dream...

 

[Dave]

Not this year. The municipal albergues all remain closed in the Basque Country and capacities elsewhere are limited.

 

[yulkapics]

Thanks for this info Dave. I had not realised that. Do you know if that's the case everywhere on the Camino? I assumed they would open in July...

 

[Dave]

50% of municipals in Galicia are open, though that includes a smaller percentage of Norte albergues. Varies widely from region to region and things continue to change weekly. Check Gronze and/or this sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QXxsop8Hm5RClfPwgdHX4OzK-pDn0h4s2QwIJlzZLAs/edit#gid=0

Don't assume anything this year. Normal is on the horizon, but it's not here yet.

 

[yulkapics]

Ok, onto bookings then. Thank you so much. This is beyond helpful - and, of course, nothing is normal this year... It may be wise to wait till October. But we will try...

 

[Mandygoingplaces]

Camino del Norte Accommodations - 2024

Norte Accomms Camino del Norte Accommodations,Updates to The Camino del Norte and Camino Primitivo by Dave Whitson and Laura Perazzoli -- Available from<a href="https://www.santiagodecompostela.me/collections/camino-del-norte-items/products/the-northern-caminos-guide-with-free-camino-passport"> ...

docs.google.com

This is the best thing I've seen all week!! Hoping to walk third leg of the Norte starting Aug 9th and IF we can go - this will be a lifesaver. Thanks for your time compiling it!

 

[Dave]

Just made ~30 new updates this morning! Most of the news is good, though it was a bummer to see that the municipal albergue in Castro-Urdiales will not be reopening in 2021.

 

[Mandygoingplaces]

Just made ~30 new updates this morning! Most of the news is good, though it was a bummer to see that the municipal albergue in Castro-Urdiales will not be reopening in 2021.

That was good timing then Castro was beautiful, but I guess expensive now without the Municipal Albergue.... Starting from Comillas for 8 days this time. Will let you know if I find out anything on that stretch, although will probably wait till nearer the time to enquire. Thanks again!

 

[BuenC_JamieG]

50% of municipals in Galicia are open, though that includes a smaller percentage of Norte albergues. Varies widely from region to region and things continue to change weekly. Check Gronze and/or this sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QXxsop8Hm5RClfPwgdHX4OzK-pDn0h4s2QwIJlzZLAs/edit#gid=0

Don't assume anything this year. Normal is on the horizon, but it's not here yet.

Thanks for this resource!! Very helpful.

 

[Lurch]

Not this year. The municipal albergues all remain closed in the Basque Country and capacities elsewhere are limited.

Is this expected to last thru the year?

 

[Dave]

Is this expected to last thru the year?

Depends on the place. Galicia is reopening, with 50% of the Xunta albergues now open at partial capacity. No movement on the Basque Country. As I mentioned above, at least one answer from Cantabria about an albergue not reopening in 2021. Some places are just in wait-and-see mode.

Pretty much all of the hotels will be open. It's shared accommodation that is much trickier from a public health management perspective.

 

[Turigrino]

When I tried to google any new information about the Basque Camino Association which runs the municipal albergues in Guipuzcoa (including del Norte from Irun to Deba), I encountered this infamous red stripe:

 

[Dave]

Yeah, don't get too troubled by that. It's getting misapplied in a lot of different places right now.

 

[Turigrino]

I found this on the webpage of the Irun municipal albergue

"El año 2021 está pendiente de la evolución de la pandemia; de momento, no se abrirá hasta septiembre"

"For now (de momento) the albergue won't open until September"

This may be a general rule affecting all municipal albergues run by this association in Basque Country - but that's just my opinion, I don't know that.

 

[Laurie Sanantone]

The Association’s web page seems to be working:

Asociación – JAKOBI

irunsantiago.com